PRWeek understands Royal Mail is inviting the industry’s top City PR agencies to pitch for a brief to support its financial comms through a landmark privatisation process next year.

The group currently uses Brunswick, which is thought to have been invited to participate in the competitive pitch.

Earlier this month it emerged that Royal Mail’s comms boss Shane O'Riordain decided to stay at the group in an expanded role, having previously accepted a job heading comms at Australian bank Westpac.

Both Royal Mail and Brunswick declined to comment on the story.

Royal Mail is wholly owned by the Government, which is thought to finally be ready to pull the trigger on the long-mooted sell-off of the UK’s postal service.

While a straight sale to private equity or trade buyers has not been ruled out, it is though that the Government’s preferred route is a stock market float.

A listing on the London Stock Exchange could value the group at around £4bn and would catapult Royal Mail into the FTSE 100.

In its interim results in November, Royal Mail stated: ‘Preparations are now under way for the sale of Royal Mail Group. Obtaining external capital is a key part of the transformation process as we become a more parcels-focused business and make the investment in technology to do so.’